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Illinois Watch Co. was in operation from 1869-1948 and produced some of the most renowned railroad-grade movements ever manufactured. Watches were produced in their factory in Springfield, Illinois.
This dial features the iconic railroad layout, but with an extra layer of detail: every minute is written out around the perimeter in black, with five-minute increments highlighted in red. The design became so iconic that it was given its own name—the “Montgomery Dial.” This example is flawless, free of chips or cracks, and beautifully highlights the bold, highly legible railroad aesthetic. The original heat-blued hands provide exceptional contrast against the white porcelain-enamel dial and remain unrestored in their original condition. Beneath the dial is Illinois’ Santa Fe Special grade, a 21-jewel in-house movement manufactured in Springfield, Illinois, in 1918. The Santa Fe Special was one of Illinois’ higher-grade movements, and this example is especially uncommon because it retains its original golden movement accents. The jewel settings, gear train, balance, and balance weights were individually hand-polished to restore their original golden tone. The hands were intentionally left untouched, preserving the original heat-blue finish applied by Illinois more than a century ago. Together, these details create a singular example of Illinois design and craftsmanship—thoughtfully restored and ready for a new century of wear.
This Illinois timepiece is housed in our precision-engineered 316L stainless steel conversion case, built for both durability and comfort. Adjustable lugs allow effortless winding and setting while tailoring the fit to a wide range of wrist sizes. Front, back, and crown gaskets provide water resistance up to 50 meters (though we recommend removing the watch before water activities). Fully serviced and tested, this piece is ready to be worn and enjoyed for years to come.
Watch Performance
Accuracy: +/- 10 seconds per day
Amplitude: 295 degrees
Beat Error: 1.5 ms
Frequency: 18,000 (5 beats per second)
Power Reserve: 24-30 hours
Complication: Sub second hand
Watch Specifications
Manufacture: Illinois
Location: Springfield, Illinois
Year Manufactured: 1918
Dial Material: Porcelain-enamel (flawless)
Jewels: 21 jewels
Case Diameter: 44 mm
Front Crystal: Domed AR coated sapphire
Back Crystal: Flat AR coated sapphire
Case Material: 316L stainless
Lug width: 22 mm
Lug to Lug: 47 mm (52 mm with crown)
Height: 13 mm
Serial Number: 3399136
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
All Frett & Co. Clockworks watches come with a full 1-year warranty unless otherwise stated.